anaphora
What is Anaphora? Definition, Usage, and Literary Examples
Anaphora Definition
An anaphora (uh-NAF-er-uh) is when a speaker or writer repeats a word or sequence of words at the beginning of a series of sentences or phrases. Anaphoras are an old figure of speech, used notably in religious devotionals such as the biblical psalms. Anaphoras regained popularity from time to time over the centuries, resurging in the Elizabethan and Romantic periods, and are still in use today.
The term anaphora comes from the Greek anafora, meaning “to bring back” or “to carry back.”
Examples of Anaphora
In each of the following examples, the bolded word or phrase is repeated for emphasis.
- “Every day, every week, every month, and every year, my life follows the same old schedule.”
- “My family is my purpose. My family is my motivation. My family is my inspiration.”
- “Teach him to be kind. Teach him to be respectful. Teach him to be considerate of others.”
Why Writers Use Anaphora
As demonstrated in the examples, writers use anaphora for indicating the significance of something This emphasis can have a number of different uses: express emotions, connect or compare ideas, give structure, make sentences more memorable, provide rhythm, or make a message easier to read and understand. Most importantly, this repetition can inspire or persuade readers, eliciting an emotional response. As a result, the device appears in poetry, literature, political speeches, music, film, TV, and other media.
Anaphoras, however, can be overused or come across as overly dramatic. Writers use them most effectively when they emphasize a central, crucial point of the writing.
Anaphora vs. Epistrophe and Symploce
An epistrophe, also known as an epiphora, is like an anaphora because it’s also a repetition of a word or words. However, unlike anaphoras, epistrophes repeat at the end. Take the anaphora example “My family is my purpose. My family is my motivation. My family is my inspiration.” The epistrophe version would be: “My purpose is my family. My motivation is my family. My inspiration is my family.”
A symploce is when both anaphora and epistrophe are used. A common example is the following excerpt from one of former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s speeches: “When there is talk of hatred, let us stand up and talk against it. When there is talk of violence, let us stand up and talk against it.”
Anaphoras Outside of Literature
Anaphoras in Media
Anaphoras frequently appear in TV and film. As in writing, they serve to emphasize, often providing central clues regarding a character or overarching message. An example of this is in the TV show Breaking Bad.
Walter White, who started off manufacturing meth after a cancer diagnosis left him concerned for his family’s financial security, gradually evolves into a criminal mastermind. In a pivotal scene, Walter’s wife asks him to put a stop to what he’s doing, worried he’s endangering himself by continuing this crime. He responds using an anaphora: “I am not in danger, Skyler. I am the danger. A guy opens his door and gets shot and you think that of me? No. I am the one who knocks!” The moment marks the turning point of Walter’s descent into crime, emphasizing his shift from chemistry teacher Walter White to the criminal he has become.
Anaphoras in Political Speeches
Anaphoras are also used in political speeches, typically to inspire or persuade the listener. Take this excerpt from one of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s iconic World War II speeches:
We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.
This speech took place during a difficult period of the war. With Nazi Germany’s impending invasion of France, the British were becoming increasingly concerned that Britain would be next. Churchill’s repetition here is meant to rally the British people, urging them to remain determined and united in the face of their enemy.
Examples of Anaphora in Literature
1. Allen Ginsberg, Howl
In this excerpt, Ginsberg uses the biblical figure Moloch to refer to New York City:
Moloch whose eyes are a thousand blind windows! Moloch whose skyscrapers stand in the long streets like endless Jehovahs! Moloch whose factories dream and croak in the fog! Moloch whose smokestacks and antennae crown the cities! [bold for emphasis]
By evoking the monstrous and idolatrous Moloch, Ginsberg is criticizing the capitalism and industrialism that drives the city.
2. William Shakespeare, Richard II
As John of Gaunt is dying, he laments what England will become under Richard II:
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,
This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings [. . .] This land of such dear souls, this dear dear land, [bold for emphasis}
By repeating the word this, John of Gaunt underscores how England is being brought down from greatness as a result.
3. William Wordsworth, “Tintern Abbey”
In his poem, Wordsworth uses anaphora to emphasize the passage of time.
Five years have past; five summers, with the length
Of five long winters! and again I hear
These waters, rolling from their mountain-springs
With a soft inland murmur. [bold for emphasis]
By including this figure of speech, Wordsworth creates a sense of reminiscence as the speaker reflects back on the time that has passed.
Further Resources on Anaphora
The YouTube channel Mr. Hanna provides a video on anaphora with additional examples.
Brendan McGuigan’s textbook Rhetorical Devices: A Handbook and Activities for Student Writers has a section with activities for further practice.